Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played 20 seasons in the NBA but could have lasted longer. “The Captain” was lauded for properly taking care of his body, which is why he played until he was 40.
Although the six-time NBA champion saw his performance take a slight dip, Abdul-Jabbar remained a force to reckon with at 41 years old. He officially retired after the 1988-89 season, although he contemplated a comeback in 1991.
Pat Riley believed a KAJ comeback made sense
One person who believed it made sense was Kareem’s former coach, Pat Riley. Riles was already with the New York Knicks at the time and believed Abdul-Jabbar could still keep in step with the players despite already being 43 years old in 1991.
Having been with the six-time NBA MVP, Riley backed up his belief. He witnessed KAJ’s successful career, pointing out how the top pick of the 1979 Draft kept himself in tip-top shape.
“I always thought one of the things that made Kareem so successful was his incredible durability. He was addicted to working out 12 months a year. He never suffered any major injuries. Obviously, his age is a factor, but he’s a gifted athlete and a very, very smart player, so you never know,” Riles stated to the New York Times.
Abdul-Jabbar could have played for the Knicks
After hinting that he would be open to making a return in 1991, Kareem clarified that he was merely considering it. Critics pondered the possibility of seeing Abdul-Jabbar in a Knicks jersey.
It made sense because it would have reunited him with Riles, although the many-time champion coach knew how to use KAJ well. But adding Kareem to a team with Patrick Ewing in the middle raised questions.
New York had a good 1991-92 season with their roster. With Riley and Ewing leading the way, New York went as far as the Eastern Conference semifinals. Seeing Abdul-Jabbar stage a comeback would have been something. However, it is anyone’s guess if such a move would have helped the Knicks go deeper into the postseason wars.
KAJ comeback clarified
With Abdul-Jabbar suggesting a comeback could have been possible, it remained that the Lakers legend made that suggestion for the sake of Johnson. KAJ believed it was the best thing he could do at the time to help out his ex-Lakers teammate.
“(A comeback) crossed my mind when I heard the news about Magic. I wanted to do something positive that could help my friend. Basketball is what I do best,” Kareem said.
Abdul-Jabbar’s comeback intentions were meant to help Magic and to raise money to help in AIDS research. Nothing really prospered from there, although Johnson greatly appreciated the gesture.
As most know, Johnson found a way to battle the HIV disease. He successfully made a return to the NBA scene in 1995 but ended up retiring in 1996 – on his own terms.
This article first appeared on Basketball Network and was syndicated with permission.
